Cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 and parents thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seeds and plants of cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 and cucumber inbred line ASL-M316-0716GY. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds, plant parts, and tissue cultures of cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 and cucumber inbred line ASL-M316-0716GY and to methods for producing a cucumber plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another plant, such as a cucumber plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to plants, seeds, plant parts, and tissue cultures of cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 and cucumber inbred line ASL-M316-0716GY comprising introduced beneficial or desirable traits.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 andcucumber inbred line ASL-M316-0716GY.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety. Such desirable traits may include any trait deemedbeneficial or desirable by a grower or consumer, including greateryield, resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmentalstress, and nutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollencomes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over manygenerations become homozygous at almost all genetic loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A crossbetween two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces auniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for manygenetic loci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at anumber of loci produces a population of hybrid plants that differgenetically and are not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makesperformance unpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derivedtherefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those havecommercial potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a cucumber plant of hybridSVCS0927 or line ASL-M316-0716GY. Also provided are cucumber plantshaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics of such aplant. Parts of these cucumber plants are also provided, for example,including pollen, an ovule, an embryo, a seed, a scion, a rootstock, afruit, and a cell of the plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of cucumber hybrid SVCS0927or cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY comprising an added heritable trait isprovided. The heritable trait may comprise a genetic locus that is, forexample, a dominant or recessive allele. In one embodiment of theinvention, a plant of cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 or cucumber lineASL-M316-0716GY is defined as comprising a single locus conversion. Inspecific embodiments of the invention, an added genetic locus confersone or more traits such as, for example, herbicide tolerance, insectresistance, disease resistance, and modified carbohydrate metabolism. Infurther embodiments, the trait may be conferred by a naturally occurringgene introduced into the genome of a line by backcrossing, a natural orinduced mutation, or a transgene introduced through genetictransformation techniques into the plant or a progenitor of any previousgeneration thereof. When introduced through transformation, a geneticlocus may comprise one or more genes integrated at a single chromosomallocation.

In some embodiments, a single locus conversion includes one or moresite-specific changes to the plant genome, such as, without limitation,one or more nucleotide modifications, deletions, or insertions. A singlelocus may comprise one or more genes or nucleotides integrated ormutated at a single chromosomal location. In one embodiment, a singlelocus conversion may be introduced by a genetic engineering technique,methods of which include, for example, genome editing with engineerednucleases (GEEN). Engineered nucleases include, but are not limited to,Cas endonucleases; zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs); transcriptionactivator-like effector nucleases (TALENs); engineered meganucleases,also known as homing endonucleases; and other endonucleases for DNA orRNA-guided genome editing that are well-known to the skilled artisan.

The invention also concerns the seed of cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 orcucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY. The seed of the invention may be providedas an essentially homogeneous population of seed of cucumber hybridSVCS0927 or cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY. Essentially homogeneouspopulations of seed are generally free from substantial numbers of otherseed. Therefore, seed of cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 or cucumber lineASL-M316-0716GY may be defined as forming at least about 97% of thetotal seed, including at least about 98%, 99%, or more of the seed. Theseed population may be separately grown to provide an essentiallyhomogeneous population of cucumber plants designated SVCS0927 orASL-M316-0716GY.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a cucumber plant of hybrid SVCS0927 or line ASL-M316-0716GY isprovided. The tissue culture will preferably be capable of regeneratingcucumber plants capable of expressing all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the starting plant and of regeneratingplants having substantially the same genotype as the starting plant.Examples of some of the physiological and morphological characteristicsof cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 or cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY includethose traits set forth in the tables herein. The regenerable cells insuch tissue cultures may be derived, for example, from embryos,meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips,pistils, flowers, seed, and stalks. Still further, the present inventionprovides cucumber plants regenerated from a tissue culture of theinvention, the plants having all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 or cucumber lineASL-M316-0716GY.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing cucumber seeds, plants, and fruit, which processes generallycomprise crossing a first parent cucumber plant with a second parentcucumber plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parentplants is a plant of cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY. These processes maybe further exemplified as processes for preparing hybrid cucumber seedor plants, wherein a first cucumber plant is crossed with a secondcucumber plant of a different, distinct genotype to provide a hybridthat has, as one of its parents, a plant of cucumber lineASL-M316-0716GY. In these processes, crossing will result in theproduction of seed. The seed production occurs regardless of whether theseed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent cucumber plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent cucumber plants into plants that bear flowers. A thirdstep may comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the flowers (i.e., killing or removing the pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent cucumber plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent cucumber plants.The harvested seed can be grown to produce a cucumber plant or hybridcucumber plant.

The present invention also provides the cucumber seeds and plantsproduced by a process that comprises crossing a first parent cucumberplant with a second parent cucumber plant, wherein at least one of thefirst or second parent cucumber plants is a plant of cucumber hybridSVCS0927 or cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY. In one embodiment of theinvention, cucumber seed and plants produced by the process are firstgeneration (F₁) hybrid cucumber seed and plants produced by crossing aplant in accordance with the invention with another, distinct plant. Thepresent invention further contemplates plant parts of such an F₁ hybridcucumber plant, and methods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplaryembodiments of the invention provide an F₁ hybrid cucumber plant andseed thereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 or cucumber lineASL-M316-0716GY, the method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing aprogeny plant derived from cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 or cucumber lineASL-M316-0716GY, wherein said preparing comprises crossing a plant ofcucumber hybrid SVCS0927 or cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY with a secondplant; and (b) crossing the progeny plant with itself or a second plantto produce a seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generation. Infurther embodiments, the method may additionally comprise: (c) growing aprogeny plant of a subsequent generation from said seed of a progenyplant of a subsequent generation and crossing the progeny plant of asubsequent generation with itself or a second plant; and repeating thesteps for an additional 3-10 generations to produce a plant derived fromcucumber hybrid SVCS0927 or cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY. The plantderived from cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 or cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GYmay be an inbred line, and the aforementioned repeated crossing stepsmay be defined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce the inbredline. In the method, it may be desirable to select particular plantsresulting from step (c) for continued crossing according to steps (b)and (c). By selecting plants having one or more desirable traits, aplant derived from cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 or cucumber lineASL-M316-0716GY is obtained which possesses some of the desirable traitsof the line/hybrid as well as potentially other selected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of cucumberhybrid SVCS0927 or cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY, wherein the plant hasbeen cultivated to maturity, and (b) collecting at least one cucumberfrom the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofcucumber hybrid SVCS0927 or cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY is provided.The phrase “genetic complement” is used to refer to the aggregate ofnucleotide sequences, the expression of which sequences defines thephenotype of, in the present case, a cucumber plant, or a cell or tissueof that plant. A genetic complement thus represents the genetic makeupof a cell, tissue or plant, and a hybrid genetic complement representsthe genetic make-up of a hybrid cell, tissue or plant. The inventionthus provides cucumber plant cells that have a genetic complement inaccordance with the cucumber plant cells disclosed herein, and seeds andplants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 or cucumber lineASL-M316-0716GY could be identified by any of the many well-knowntechniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by cucumber plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a cucumber plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second cucumber plant, preferably, another, distinctcucumber plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides acucumber plant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybridgenetic complement of this invention.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of the mean for the device or method being employed todetermine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used tomean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives onlyor the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunctionwith the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, thewords “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically notedotherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have,” and “include” are open-endedlinking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, suchas “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes,” and“including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that“comprises,” “has,” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited topossessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlistedsteps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has,” or “includes” oneor more traits is not limited to possessing only those one or moretraits and covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds, and derivatives of cucumber hybrid SVCS0927, cucumber lineASL-M316-0716GY, and cucumber line ASL-M3092044MO.

Hybrid SVCS0927, also known as 14-M3-ASL-0927, is a gynoecious, Americanslicing variety intended for open-field production. The hybrid producespredominantly female flowers and is blended with a monecious pollinatorfor optimum production. The hybrid develops a plant that produces fruitsthat are dark-green and blocky with blunt ends and an attractive shape.The variety comprises an indeterminate plant habit and a greaterresistance to downy mildew compared to publicly-available hybrid Cortez.The variety may also have resistance to anthracnose, angular leaf spot,powdery mildew, scab, cucumber mosaic virus, papaya ringspot virus andwatermelon mosaic virus.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Cucumber Hybrid SVCS0927

The parents of cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 are cucumber lineASL-M316-0716GY and cucumber line ASL-M3092044MO. The parent lines areuniform and stable, as is a hybrid produced therefrom. A smallpercentage of variants can occur within commercially acceptable limitsfor almost any characteristic during the course of repeatedmultiplication. However no variants are expected.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Cucumber HybridSVCS0927 and Cucumber Line ASL-M316-0716GY

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there areprovided plants having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 and the parent linesthereof. Descriptions of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of such plants are presented in the tables that follow.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of CucumberHybrid SVCS0927 CHARACTERISTIC SVCS0927 Darlington 1. Type predominantusage slicing/fresh market slicing/fresh market predominant cultureoutdoor outdoor area of best adaptation in the U.S.A. most areas mostareas 2. Maturity (region of best adaptability) days from seeding tomarket maturity 72 72 3. Plant habit vine vine cotyledon bitternesspresent present growth type indeterminate indeterminate time ofdevelopment of female flowers medium medium (80% of plants with at leastone female flower) sex primarily gynoecious primarily gynoecious sexexpression gynoecious gynoecious color of ovary vestiture white whitenumber of female flowers per node mostly 1 mostly 1 flower color yellowyellow flower color (RHS Color Chart Value) 12A 12A main stem length(cm) 127.06 113.06 number of nodes from cotyledon leaves 3.53 11.86 tonode bearing the first pistillate flower internode length (cm) 7.47 6.03stem form grooved ridged grooved ridged total length of first 15internodes medium medium 4. Leaf blade attitude (fully developed blade,drooping horizontal from the seventh node upwards) length (mature bladeof third leaf) (mm) 115.86 112.80 width (mature blade of third leaf)(mm) 163.93 152.20 petiole length (mature blade of third 10.46 11.23leaf) (cm) blade length long long ratio length of terminal lobe/lengthof small small blade blade, shape of apex of terminal lobe right angledright angled blade, intensity of green color medium medium blade,blistering medium medium blade, undulation of margin absent or weakmoderate blade, dentation of margin weak medium color of vestiture whitewhite 5. Fruit length medium medium length (edible maturity) (cm) 22.6824.20 diameter medium medium diameter at medial (edible maturity) 3.854.34 (cm) ratio length/diameter large large core diameter in relation todiameter of small large fruit shape in transverse section round toangular round shape of stem end obtuse obtuse shape of calyx end obtuseobtuse weight (edible maturity) (g) 169.66 246.40 skin color (ediblematurity) not mottled not mottled yellowish blossom end stripes (edibleextended less than ⅓ extended less than ⅓ maturity) of the fruit lengthof the fruit length predominant color at stem end (edible dark greendark green maturity) predominant color at stem end (edible 139A 137Amaturity) (RHS Color Chart Value) predominant color at blossom end darkgreen medium green (edible maturity) predominant color at blossom end139A 137C (edible maturity) (RHS Color Chart Value) neck shape (ediblematurity) not necked not necked tapering (edible maturity) ends blunt orrounded ends blunt or rounded stem end cross section (edible maturity)circular circular medial cross section (edible maturity) circularcircular blossom end cross section (edible circular circular maturity)ground color of skin (market stage) green green intensity of groundcolor of skin light light skin thickness (edible maturity) thick thickribs (in the skin, edible maturity) absent absent sutures absent absentcreasing absent absent skin toughness (edible maturity) tender tenderskin luster (edible maturity) glossy dull spin color (edible maturity)white white spine quality (edible maturity) fine coarse spine density(edible maturity) few few type of vestiture prickles only prickles onlydensity of vestiture very sparse medium color of vestiture (varietieswith white white white ovary vestiture) warts absent absent flavor(edible maturity) bitter bitterfree length of stripes short short dotsabsent absent glaucosity medium weak length of peduncle medium mediumground color of skin (physiological yellow yellow ripeness) fruit seedlength (cm) 0.98 0.88 fruit seed diameter at medial (cm) 0.40 0.38 seedcolor (harvest maturity) yellow yellow seed color (harvest maturity)(RHS 159C 161D Color Chart Value) seed color pattern (harvest maturity)not striped not striped seed surface (harvest maturity) smooth smoothseed netting (harvest maturity) slight or none slight or none fruit set(harvest maturity) normally with seeds normally with seeds number ofseeds per fruit 4.13 9.86 grams per 1,000 seeds (g) 40 36 These aretypical values. Values may vary due to environment. Values that aresubstantially equivalent are within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Cucumber LineASL-M316-0716GY CHARACTERISTIC ASL-M316-0716GY Daytona 1. Typepredominant usage slicing/fresh market slicing/fresh market predominantculture outdoor outdoor area of best adaptation in the U.S.A. most areasmost areas 2. Maturity (region of best adaptability) days from seedingto market maturity 51 51 3. Plant habit vine vine cotyledon bitternesspresent present growth type indeterminate indeterminate time ofdevelopment of female flowers medium medium (80% of plants with at leastone female flower) sex primarily gynoecious primarily gynoecious sexexpression gynoecious gynoecious color of ovary vestiture number offemale flowers per node mostly 1 mostly 1 flower color yellow yellowflower color (RHS Color Chart Value) 14A 14B main stem length (cm)135.10 142.59 number of nodes from cotyledon leaves 6.46 4.26 to nodebearing the first pistillate flower internode length (cm) 6.16 8.22 stemform grooved ridged grooved ridged total length of first 15 internodesmedium long 4. Leaf blade attitude (fully developed blade, droopinghorizontal from the seventh node upwards) length (mature blade of thirdleaf) (mm) 190.46 179.46 width (mature blade of third leaf) (mm) 189.53190.00 petiole length (mature blade of third 15.99 17.95 leaf) (cm)blade length long medium ratio length of terminal lobe/length of mediumlarge blade blade, shape of apex of terminal lobe right angled rightangled blade, intensity of green color dark dark blade, blistering weakweak blade, undulation of margin moderate absent or weak blade,dentation of margin weak strong color of vestiture white white 5. Fruitlength very long long length (edible maturity) (cm) 27.63 23.64 diameterlarge medium diameter at medial (edible maturity) 4.28 4.42 (cm) ratiolength/diameter very large large core diameter in relation to diameterof small medium fruit shape in transverse section round to angular roundto angular shape of stem end obtuse obtuse shape of calyx end roundedrounded weight (edible maturity) (g) 318.66 274.53 skin color (ediblematurity) not mottled not mottled yellowish blossom end stripes (edibleextended less than ⅓ extended less than ⅓ maturity) of the fruit lengthof the fruit length predominant color at stem end (edible dark greendark green maturity) predominant color at stem end (edible N137A 139Amaturity) (RHS Color Chart Value) predominant color at blossom end darkgreen medium green (edible maturity) predominant color at blossom endN137A 147A (edible maturity) (RHS Color Chart Value) neck shape (ediblematurity) not necked not necked tapering (edible maturity) ends blunt orrounded ends blunt or rounded stem end cross section (edible maturity)circular circular medial cross section (edible maturity) circulartriangular blossom end cross section (edible triangular triangularmaturity) ground color of skin (market stage) yellow yellow intensity ofground color of skin medium light skin thickness (edible maturity) thinthick ribs (in the skin, edible maturity) absent absent sutures absentpresent creasing absent absent skin toughness (edible maturity) tendertender skin luster (edible maturity) glossy glossy spine color (ediblematurity) white white spine quality (edible maturity) fine fine spinedensity (edible maturity) few few type of vestiture hairs and prickleshairs and prickles density of vestiture very sparse medium color ofvestiture (varieties with white white white ovary vestiture) wartsabsent absent flavor (edible maturity) bitterfree bitterfree length ofstripes short short dots absent absent glaucosity absent or very weakabsent or very weak length of peduncle medium medium ground color ofskin (physiological white yellow ripeness) fruit seed length (cm) 34.5429.99 fruit seed diameter at medial (cm) 6.65 6.69 seed color (harvestmaturity) yellow cream seed color (harvest maturity) (RHS 15a 18A ColorChart Value) seed color pattern (harvest maturity) striped striped seedsurface (harvest maturity) smooth smooth seed netting (harvest maturity)slight or none heavy fruit set (harvest maturity) normally with seedsnormally with seeds number of seeds per fruit 20.80 32.20 grams per1,000 seeds (g) 32.50 33.00 These are typical values. Values may varydue to environment. Values that are substantially equivalent are withinthe scope of the invention.

C. Breeding Cucumber Plants

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seedof cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 involving crossing cucumber lineASL-M316-0716GY and cucumber line ASL-M3092044MO. Alternatively, inother embodiments of the invention, cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 or cucumberline ASL-M316-0716GY may be crossed with itself or with any secondplant. Such methods can be used for propagation of cucumber hybridSVCS0927 or cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY or can be used to produceplants that are derived from cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 or cucumber lineASL-M316-0716GY. Plants derived from cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 orcucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY may be used, in certain embodiments, forthe development of new cucumber varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell-known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing cucumber hybrid SVCS0927 followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well-known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines,it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibitone or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit thedesired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initialcrosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to producenew varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or moregenerations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g., colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may begrown into haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. Ineither case, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance withthe invention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with aplant of the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, forexample, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locusor loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection inthe resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the elite nature of the geneticbackground of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross withcucumber hybrid SVCS0927 or cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY for thepurpose of developing novel cucumber lines, it will typically bepreferred to choose those plants which either themselves exhibit one ormore selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit the desiredcharacteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirabletraits may include, in specific embodiments, high seed yield, high seedgermination, seedling vigor, high fruit yield, disease tolerance orresistance, and adaptability for soil and climate conditions.Consumer-driven traits, such as a fruit shape, color, texture, and tasteare other examples of traits that may be incorporated into new lines ofcucumber plants developed by this invention.

D. Further Embodiments of the Invention

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein areprovided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait.Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breedingtechnique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant viathe backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant asused herein refers to those cucumber plants which are developed by aplant breeding technique called backcrossing or by genetic engineering,wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of a variety are recovered or conserved in addition tothe single locus introduced into the variety via the backcrossing orgenetic engineering technique, respectively. By essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics, it is meant that thecharacteristics of a plant are recovered or conserved that are otherwisepresent when compared in the same environment, other than an occasionalvariant trait that might arise during backcrossing, introduction of atransgene, or application of a genetic engineering technique.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parentalcucumber plant which contributes the locus for the desiredcharacteristic is termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. Thisterminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used onetime in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur. Theparental cucumber plant to which the locus or loci from the nonrecurrentparent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent as it is usedfor several rounds in the backcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a cucumber plant isobtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrentparent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrentand nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplifiedwhen the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, arecessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive anddominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessaryto introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny cucumber plants of a backcross in which aplant described herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desiredtrait from the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiologicaland morphological characteristics of cucumber the recurrent parent asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

With the development of molecular markers associated with particulartraits, it is possible to add additional traits into an established germline, such as represented here, with the end result being substantiallythe same base germplasm with the addition of a new trait or traits.Molecular breeding, as described in Moose and Mumm, 2008 (PlantPhysiol., 147: 969-977), for example, and elsewhere, provides amechanism for integrating single or multiple traits or QTL into an eliteline. This molecular breeding-facilitated movement of a trait or traitsinto an elite line may encompass incorporation of a particular genomicfragment associated with a particular trait of interest into the eliteline by the mechanism of identification of the integrated genomicfragment with the use of flanking or associated marker assays. In theembodiment represented here, one, two, three or four genomic loci, forexample, may be integrated into an elite line via this methodology. Whenthis elite line containing the additional loci is further crossed withanother parental elite line to produce hybrid offspring, it is possibleto then incorporate at least eight separate additional loci into thehybrid. These additional loci may confer, for example, such traits as adisease resistance or a fruit quality trait. In one embodiment, eachlocus may confer a separate trait. In another embodiment, loci may needto be homozygous and exist in each parent line to confer a trait in thehybrid. In yet another embodiment, multiple loci may be combined toconfer a single robust phenotype of a desired trait.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease,insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, andaltered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inheritedthrough the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are assayed for viral resistance or the presence of thecorresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates anyplants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and onlythose plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of cucumber plants for breeding is not necessarily dependenton the phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on geneticinvestigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic markerwhich is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of thesemarkers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait inthe offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection ofprogeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred toas marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or otherassay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of atrait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes.Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Suchmethods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traitsand variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be moreexpensive, time consuming, or otherwise disadvantageous. In addition,marker assisted selection may be used to identify plants comprisingdesirable genotypes at the seed, seedling, or plant stage, to identifyor assess the purity of a cultivar, to catalog the genetic diversity ofa germplasm collection, and to monitor specific alleles or haplotypeswithin an established cultivar.

Types of genetic markers which could be used in accordance with theinvention include, but are not necessarily limited to, Simple SequenceLength Polymorphisms (SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 18:6531-6535, 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNAAmplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized AmplifiedRegions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR),Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858,specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), andSingle Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science,280:1077-1082, 1998).

In particular embodiments of the invention, marker assisted selection isused to increase the efficiency of a backcrossing breeding scheme forproducing a cucumber line comprising a desired trait. This technique iscommonly referred to as marker assisted backcrossing (MABC). Thistechnique is well-known in the art and may involve, for example, the useof three or more levels of selection, including foreground selection toidentity the presence of a desired locus, which may complement orreplace phenotype screening protocols; recombinant selection to minimizelinkage drag; and background selection to maximize recurrent parentgenome recovery.

E. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Various genetic engineering technologies have been developed and may beused by those of skill in the art to introduce traits in plants. Incertain aspects of the claimed invention, traits are introduced intocucumber plants via altering or introducing a single genetic locus ortransgene into the genome of a recited variety or progenitor thereof.Methods of genetic engineering to modify, delete, or insert genes andpolynucleotides into the genomic DNA of plants are well-known in theart.

In specific embodiments of the invention, improved cucumber lines can becreated through the site-specific modification of a plant genome.Methods of genetic engineering include, for example, utilizingsequence-specific nucleases such as zinc-finger nucleases (see, forexample, U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 2011-0203012); engineered or nativemeganucleases; TALE-endonucleases (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.8,586,363 and 9,181,535); and RNA-guided endonucleases, such as those ofthe CRISPR/Cas systems (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,697,359 and8,771,945 and U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 2014-0068797). One embodiment ofthe invention thus relates to utilizing a nuclease or any associatedprotein to carry out genome modification. This nuclease could beprovided heterologously within donor template DNA for templated-genomicediting or in a separate molecule or vector. A recombinant DNA constructmay also comprise a sequence encoding one or more guide RNAs to directthe nuclease to the site within the plant genome to be modified. Furthermethods for altering or introducing a single genetic locus include, forexample, utilizing single-stranded oligonucleotides to introduce basepair modifications in a cucumber plant genome (see, for example Sauer etal., Plant Physiol, 170(4):1917-1928, 2016).

Methods for site-directed alteration or introduction of a single geneticlocus are well-known in the art and include those that utilizesequence-specific nucleases, such as the aforementioned, or complexes ofproteins and guide-RNA that cut genomic DNA to produce a double-strandbreak (DSB) or nick at a genetic locus. As is well-understood in theart, during the process of repairing the DSB or nick introduced by thenuclease enzyme, a donor template, transgene, or expression cassettepolynucleotide may become integrated into the genome at the site of theDSB or nick. The presence of homology arms in the DNA to be integratedmay promote the adoption and targeting of the insertion sequence intothe plant genome during the repair process through homologousrecombination or non-homologous end joining (NHEJ).

In another embodiment of the invention, genetic transformation may beused to insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention ormay, alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which canbe introduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plantsthat are well-known to those of skill in the art and applicable to manycrop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation,microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, anddirect DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plantcells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles arecoated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so thatthey are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., Nat. Biotechnol., 3(7):637-642, 1985). Moreover, recenttechnological advances in vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated genetransfer have improved the arrangement of genes and restriction sites inthe vectors to facilitate the construction of vectors capable ofexpressing various polypeptide coding genes. The vectors described haveconvenient multi-linker regions flanked by a promoter and apolyadenylation site for direct expression of inserted polypeptidecoding genes. Additionally, Agrobacterium containing both armed anddisarmed Ti genes can be used for transformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., Nat. Biotechnol., 3:629-635, 1985; U.S.Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, for example,Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985; Omirulleh et al.,Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993; Fromm et al., Nature,312:791-793, 1986; Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986;Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988). Transformation of plants andexpression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(Plant Cell Rep., 13:344-348, 1994), and Ellul et al. (Theor. Appl.Genet., 107:462-469, 2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expressioninclude, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression inmost plant tissues (see, for example, Odel et al., Nature, 313:810,1985), including in monocots (see, for example, Dekeyser et al., PlantCell, 2:591, 1990; Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389,1990); a tandemly duplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, theenhanced 35S promoter (P-e35S); the nopaline synthase promoter (An etal., Plant Physiol., 88:547, 1988); the octopine synthase promoter(Fromm et al., Plant Cell, 1:977, 1989); the figwort mosaic virus(P-FMV) promoter as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619; an enhancedversion of the FMV promoter (P-eFMV) where the promoter sequence ofP-FMV is duplicated in tandem; the cauliflower mosaic virus 19Spromoter; a sugarcane bacilliform virus promoter; a commelina yellowmottle virus promoter; and other plant virus promoters known to expressin plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, or developmental signals can also beused for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells, includingpromoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., Plant Physiol., 88:965,1988), (2) light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter, Kuhlemeier et al., PlantCell, 1:471, 1989; maize rbcS promoter, Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell,3:997, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-binding protein promoter, Simpson etal., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985), (3) hormones, such as abscisic acid(Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989), (4) wounding (e.g., wunl,Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989); or (5) chemicals, such asmethyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It may also beadvantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal et al.,EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987; Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988;Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a cucumber plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a cucumber plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991). The RNA could also be acatalytic RNA molecule (i.e., a ribozyme) engineered to cleave a desiredendogenous mRNA product (see, for example, Gibson and Shillito, Mol.Biotech., 7:125, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces a protein or mRNAwhich expresses a phenotype or morphology change of interest is usefulfor the practice of the present invention.

F. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a genetic locus, all ofwhich alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cellor organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding locion a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce oneor more single locus conversions or transgenes from one geneticbackground into another.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-Pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemicalagent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence, or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with anacceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant ortolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop,even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Color Chart Value: The RHS Color Chartis a standardized reference which allows accurate identification of anycolor. A color's designation on the chart describes its hue, brightness,and saturation. A color is precisely named by the RHS Color Chart byidentifying the group name, sheet number, and letter, e.g.,Yellow-Orange Group 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-Pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed bya plant breeding technique called backcrossing or genetic engineering ofa locus, wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of a cucumber variety are recovered in addition to thecharacteristics of the single locus.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a cucumber plant by transformation orsite-specific modification.

G. Deposit Information

A deposit of cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY, disclosed above and recitedin the claims, has been made with the American Type Culture Collection(ATCC), 10801 University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The date ofdeposit for cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY is Nov. 14, 2018. Theaccession number for those deposited seeds of cucumber lineASL-M316-0716GY is ATCC Accession Number PTA-125524. Upon issuance of apatent, all restrictions upon the deposit will be removed, and thedeposit is intended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §§1.801-1.809. The deposit will be maintained in the depository for aperiod of 30 years, 5 years after the last request, or the effectivelife of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced ifnecessary during that period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

What is claimed:
 1. A cucumber plant comprising at least a first set ofthe chromosomes of cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY, a sample of seed ofsaid line having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-125524.2. A cucumber seed that produces the plant of claim
 1. 3. The plant ofclaim 1, wherein the plant is a plant of said cucumber lineASL-M316-0716GY.
 4. The plant of claim 1, wherein the plant is a plantof cucumber hybrid SVCS0927.
 5. The seed of claim 2, wherein the seed isa seed of said cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY.
 6. The seed of claim 2,wherein the seed is a seed of cucumber hybrid SVCS0927.
 7. A plant partof the plant of claim 1, wherein the plant part comprises a cell of saidplant.
 8. A cucumber plant having all the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the plant of claim
 1. 9. A tissueculture of regenerable cells of the plant of claim
 1. 10. A method ofvegetatively propagating the plant of claim 1, the method comprising thesteps of: (a) collecting tissue capable of being propagated from theplant of claim 1; and (b) propagating a cucumber plant from said tissue.11. A method of introducing a trait into a cucumber line, the methodcomprising: (a) utilizing as a recurrent parent the plant of claim 1 bycrossing said plant with a donor plant that comprises a trait to produceF₁ progeny; (b) selecting an F₁ progeny that comprises the trait; (c)backcrossing the selected F₁ progeny with a plant of the same line usedas the recurrent parent in step (a) to produce backcross progeny; (d)selecting a backcross progeny comprising the trait and otherwisecomprising the morphological and physiological characteristics of therecurrent parent line used in step (a); and (e) repeating steps (c) and(d) three or more times to produce a selected fourth or higher backcrossprogeny.
 12. A cucumber plant produced by the method of claim 11,wherein said plant comprises the trait and other otherwise comprises allof the physiological and morphological characteristics of cucumber lineASL-M316-0716GY.
 13. A method of producing a cucumber plant comprisingan added trait, the method comprising introducing a transgene conferringthe trait into the plant of claim
 1. 14. A cucumber plant produced bythe method of claim 13, wherein said plant comprises the trait andotherwise comprises all of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY or cucumber hybridSVCS0927.
 15. A cucumber plant comprising at least a first set of thechromosomes of cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY, a sample of seed of saidline having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-125524,further comprising a transgene.
 16. The plant of claim 15, wherein thetransgene confers a trait selected from the group consisting of malesterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance,disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stresstolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism, and modified proteinmetabolism.
 17. A cucumber plant comprising at least a first set of thechromosomes of cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY, a sample of seed of saidline having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-125524,further comprising a single locus conversion.
 18. The plant of claim 17,wherein the single locus conversion confers a trait selected from thegroup consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insectresistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acidmetabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydratemetabolism, and modified protein metabolism.
 19. A method for producinga seed of a cucumber plant derived from at least one of cucumber hybridSVCS0927 or cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY, the method comprising thesteps of: (a) crossing the plant of claim 1 with itself or a differentcucumber plant; and (b) allowing a seed of a cucumber hybrid SVCS0927-or cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY-derived cucumber plant to form.
 20. Amethod of producing a seed of a cucumber hybrid SVCS0927- or cucumberline ASL-M316-0716GY-derived cucumber plant, the method comprising thesteps of: (a) producing a cucumber hybrid SVCS0927- or cucumber lineASL-M316-0716GY-derived cucumber plant from a seed produced by crossingthe plant of claim 1 with itself or a different cucumber plant; and (b)crossing the cucumber hybrid SVCS0927- or cucumber lineASL-M316-0716GY-derived cucumber plant with itself or a differentcucumber plant to obtain a seed of a further cucumber hybrid SVCS0927-or cucumber line ASL-M316-0716GY-derived cucumber plant.
 21. The methodof claim 20, the method further comprising repeating said producing andcrossing steps of (a) and (b) using the seed from said step (b) forproducing the plant according to step (a) for at least one generation toproduce a seed of an additional cucumber hybrid SVCS0927- or cucumberline ASL-M316-0716GY-derived cucumber plant.
 22. A method of producing acucumber fruit, the method comprising: (a) obtaining the plant of claim1, wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity; and (b) collectinga cucumber fruit from the plant.